Closet means

ABSTRACT

A closet means comprises a chair having an upwards pivotable seat ring and a closure for shutting the chair. Immediately below said ring there is provided a well-like chamber, the wall of which is thermally insulated and connected to a cooling system in such a way, that the wall of the chamber may be cooled down to about -15* C and that during such cooling heat is uniformly transferred to the seat ring, which is insulated from said wall by means of a ring of plastic or the like.

United States Patent Bengtsson [451 July 11, 1972 [5 2335 215 5 195 21112125122; 13 Assignee: TeBe-Elprodukter AB, Huskvama. 3:564:6l8 2/1971 Sweden 3,522,613 8/l970 [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 19" J's-"'56s 5H9.

2 I APPL 1 3 25 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Henry K. Artis Altomey-Cushman. Darby & Cushman {30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 10, I970 Sweden ..l662/70 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. c1 .4/1 11, 4/1 15, 4/1 16, A means chm S R f 4/131 seat mg and a closure for shutung the C118". lmmedlately [51 1 In. A4 11/02 below said ring there is provided a well-like chamber, the wall {58] 77 78 of which is the y insulated and connected to a cooling I S system in such a way, that the wall of the chamber may be 4/79 cooled down to about l5 C and that during such cooling heat is unifomlly transferred to the seat ring. which is insu Ram Cmd lated from said wall by means of a ring of plastic or the like.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 cmms, 4 lh-awlng fi ures Horm ..4/l3l X CLOSET MEANS This invention relates to a closet means comprising a chair having an upwards pivotable seat ring and a closure for shutting the chair.

Particularly in vacation areas the provision of acceptable drain systems for closets would involve too high costs. In view hereof latrine bins and addition of chemical agents, such as lime or/and sanitation liquid are used to a great extent. The latrine bins are collected periodically and transported to a central location for emptying and burning or other destruction of their contents. The latrine bins are washed and distributed for re-use in connection with the next collection of latrine bins. It is evident that such a system has many drawbacks in respect of hygiene and handling. Therefore, they have also proposed and to a certain extent actually made installations of closets where the faeces are immediately burnt with the aid of electric current. This, however, entails drawbacks in the form of high costs, waiting time and disturbing generation of smoke.

in a closet means according to the invention said problems have been solved in that the faeces are collected in a bag or container which is provided with closing means and is maintained at a substantially constant temperature below the freezing point and in that the faeces are removed in a frozen condition to a place where they are destroyed.

The closet means according to the invention is primarily characterized therein, that there is provided, immediately below said seat ring, a well-like chamber, the wall of which is thermally insulated and connected to a cooling system in such a way, that the wall may be cooled down to about l" C and that during such cooling heat is uniformly transferred to the seat ring which is insulated from said wall by means of a ring of resin, plastic or the like. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention said ring also constitutes a holder for a disposable bag of plastic or a similar material which is immersed into said chamber as a lining for the walls and the bottom thereof.

The invention will now be more particularly described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and in which FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section on the line I l in H6. 2;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the upper right-hand comer of FIG. 1 on a larger scale; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a transportation box.

According to FIG. 1 a disposable container 1 in the form of a plastic bag is so immersed in a well-like chamber 2 that it forms a lining for the walls and the bottom thereof. The inner wall of said chamber is comprised of a tubular member 3 having channels for conducting a cooling medium around the circumference of said tubular member 3 in a manner known per se. The upper edge of the container 1 is provided with means for quick sealing thereof in the form of a band 5 of a sofi metal, such as aluminum, which extends along the circumference of the bag. The edge of the bag is maintained doublefolded downwards and protected by a removable locking ring 6. The chamber 2 has a further wall 7 of a thermally insulating material, such as polyurethane foam, to the outside of which a tubular condenser 8 for the cooling agent is attached. Beside the chamber 2 there are provided a compressor 9, a drier 10, a heat exchanger 11 and a thermostat 12 which in a manner known per se form a cooling system which permits lowering of the temperature of the evaporation tube to about 1 5 C and maintaining its temperature at this level. Said apparatuses and connections therebetween are enclosed by a casing 13 in the upper side of which there is provided an opening 14 which corresponds to the bag or container 1 and is terminated by an angular seat of plastic material which may be pivoted upwards. A thermally insulating cover 16 is adapted to shut the opening of the seat when being swung down. Between the locking ring 6 and the seat 15 there is provided an interspace 17 which permits free circulation of air between these components. in the lower portion of the casing 13 there are provided air inlets l8 and at the upper portion of the casing there is an opening 19 which may be connected to an air duct. A switch 20 for the compressor 9 which is driven electrically makes the system complete. The mode of operation is as follows.

When faeces get into the container or bag 1 they are quickly cooled down below the freezing point, since the container has a good thermal contact with the evaporator 3 which is maintained at about -1 5 C by the cooling system. Hereby, they entirely cease to emit smelling agents, and their bacterial processes are terminated. Heat transported away from the chamber 2, which dissipates in the condenser 8 and the heat exchanger 11, is utilized for driving an air stream from the inlet 18 through the interspace 17 to the opening 19. The heated air imparts to the seat 15 when passing same a convenient temperature and gives the device a suitable ventilation.

When the bag or container 1 has become filled to a suitable extent, the closure 16, the seat and the locking ring 6 are raised so that the edge of the container becomes free. Since the contents are frozen and without scent no discomfort is involved in elevating the container and closing the same by tightening the band 5. After that the container may be placed in a simple box 21 which is provided with a lid and is of a thermally insulating material, such as polystyrene foam, and may be delivered to a central collection or transported away in another way for destruction of the container and its contents. Hereby, the box 21 need not be deteriorated and may be reused several times. Even at a moderate thickness of its walls, for instance about 35 mm, it permits storage for about 48 hours, before its contents attains a temperature exceeding the freezing point. At central collection it is also possible to use a vehicle having a thermally insulated loading space, instead of boxes 2]. In a particular embodiment of the invention. the cover is provided with means comprising a pump 22 and a tank 23 which at the shutting of the closure automatically distributes a powder or a foam forming and/or rapidly freezing agent over the contents of the bag or container which hereby becomes substantially less disgusting. The invention may be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims, particularly freezing by the aid of carbon dioxide snow, the utilization of a cooling system driven by hydrocarbons and altered facilities for the closing of the bag or container.

What I claim is:

i. In a closet means, an upwards pivot/able seat ring and a closure for shutting the ring, a well-like chamber located below said ring and having a thermally insulating wall, a cooling system which is connected to said chamber for cooling the wall thereof down to about 5 C, means for uniformly transferring heat during such cooling to said seat ring, and a ring of thermally insulating material which is interposed between said wall and said seat ring for insulating said seat ring from said wall.

2. in a closet means according to claim 1, a holder for a disposable bag of plastic or a similar material which is immersed into said chamber as a lining for the walls and the bottom thereof and which is held in place by said insulating ring.

3. in a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a foam forming agent, and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the bag in response to the shutting of said closure.

4. in a closet means according to claim I, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a rapidly freezing agent,and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the bag in response to the shutting of said closure.

5. In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a foam forming agent, and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the chamber in response to the shutting of said closure.

6A In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a rapidly freezing agent and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the chamber in response to the shutting of said closure.

l Q i k 

1. In a closet means, an upwArds pivotable seat ring and a closure for shutting the ring, a well-like chamber located below said ring and having a thermally insulating wall, a cooling system which is connected to said chamber for cooling the wall thereof down to about -15* C, means for uniformly transferring heat during such cooling to said seat ring, and a ring of thermally insulating material which is interposed between said wall and said seat ring for insulating said seat ring from said wall.
 2. In a closet means according to claim 1, a holder for a disposable bag of plastic or a similar material which is immersed into said chamber as a lining for the walls and the bottom thereof and which is held in place by said insulating ring.
 3. In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a foam forming agent, and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the bag in response to the shutting of said closure.
 4. In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a rapidly freezing agent,and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the bag in response to the shutting of said closure.
 5. In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a foam forming agent, and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the chamber in response to the shutting of said closure.
 6. In a closet means according to claim 1, a device which comprises a pump and a tank, which contains a rapidly freezing agent and a mechanical coupling between said closure and said device for distributing said agent over the contents of the chamber in response to the shutting of said closure. 